Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) have given their thoughts after the pair collided in Race 2 of the Motul Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen. On Lap 6, Razgatlioglu ran wide through Turn 1, while remaining on the track, with Rea and Razgatlioglu colliding on the exit of Turn 1. The incident forced both riders out of the race with the crash investigated by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards with no further action taken. After the race, both Razgatlioglu and Rea discussed the incident.

Starting with Rea, the Ulsterman said: “Just a little bit frustrated. Going into T1, he completely outbraked himself and almost stopped the bike on the kerb on the outside to avoid going off track. At that point, his corner was so slow. I kept my normal line and carried on with my race if you like. You expect, especially when you know someone’s right beside you, that they’re going to be there, and he cut straight back. I understand it’s a racing accident. I was there, I was in front with track position, and I felt like myself and Toprak were also robbed of a good race.”

Defending World Champion Razgatlioglu gave his version of events: “I tried to brake hard at the first corner and I ran a little bit wide, but I didn’t go outside the track. I’m turning also onto the racing line. I touched the kerb but I stayed on the racing line, I didn’t come back inside. I saw Jonny and he was very fast. After, we crashed. I think for me this is a racing incident. I think Jonny needs to look at me. I go a little bit wide, I stay on the track, but he’s not looking. He’s just opened the gas and we crashed together. I am surprised to crash with Jonny, normally he doesn’t make this mistake because he’s a WorldSBK legend.”

However, in their media debriefs on Sunday evening, the drama continued as Razgatlioglu stated he was “talking reality” about what happened: “I think he needs to watch the crash again; from my camera, not his camera. I am in front, it’s not possible to see him. I go a bit wide, I close the gap and going to come back. I think he needs to check; he’s not looking to the left. I think his plan is to push me outside; he’s not looking at me. After the crash, I have not spoken with him. I haven’t said anything because he knows, and I know. He’s talking about his side; I am talking reality. I think everybody who watched the video sees it clearly. It’s his mistake because he’s not directly looking at me. It’s better now that we aren’t talking, but maybe later we will talk.” 

On the other side of the fence, Rea commented on the need for Toprak to leave him more room on the exit of Turn 1: “The facts are that he made a mistake, he’s wide – not completely off the track but wide. He’s completely slowed the speed down to avoid going off the track and instead of giving room to me, who he knew I’m right beside him because I almost overtook him in Turn 1, he committed to coming straight back on the track. I was on the racing line, carrying a normal race speed. If it’s a data thing, check my data, it’s probably slower because I anticipated maybe something… but I was through at this point. I expected in this position, some space. It was unfortunate because we threw away points when I felt like I could have raced for 25 today.”

Photo credit: Racesport.nl / Rene Vos

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